Newtonmore timber firm branching out
A Badenoch firm bucking the economic trend has now revealed its £300,000 expansion plans to the "Strathy".
Russwood Ltd, the Newtonmore-based sustainable timber specialists, have seen their staff numbers more than treble in 10 years and now aim to develop a disused railway siding into plush new offices which will at the same time serve as a "living advertisement" for their products.
John Russell, the managing director who has seen his family’s one-time coal merchant’s business blossom into one which supplies the raw materials for award-winning structures up and down the length of Britain, told the "Strathy": "We’re really excited about using the space here much more effectively.
"What we have is a storage yard which is being under-used, while our 35-strong staff are based in separate Portacabins around the site here.
"The architects have designed an absolutely first class solution to our problem – not just the creation of more space for us, and in an area safely away from the production side and much more easily accessible to our customers, but in a way which will afford us advertising on a scale you simply couldn’t dream of buying.
"What I mean is we’re building a showhouse right alongside the country’s main north-south railway line, a statement which will be read by thousands of travellers every day.
"They will see the design standards we work to, they’ll see the materials we specialise in, and there engraved in the windows they will see the name RUSSWOOD spelt out as clear as day, every time they go past.
"This can only be a good thing for our business and the broader community too. It will be a great boost for Newtonmore and vicinity, and we can’t wait to get started."
Already extensive consultations have taken place between the company, its Peterhead-based advisors HRI Architects and the planners of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, who have called in the application.
"Discussions have been very positive" said Mr Russell. "We’re really hopeful the process will be a smooth one from here. It would be fantastic to get started in the spring."
But what has pleased the managing director more than anything is the accommodating nature of neighbouring Newtonmore businesses down at the industrial estate by the station.
"We’re very grateful for the spirit of co-operation which has been shown by our neighbours Simpson Game Ltd and Groverprint regarding access arrangements – we’ll be needing direct access to the development site, and that’s going to be a big help to us in allowing our customers to steer clear of the main sawmill production area.
"The offices and reception area will be directly available to visitors via the new separate access road, all being well."
